Expert: Joe Norman - 11/8/2010

Question
Thank you for your time, I just had a question about the bible and Gods word. If you could help me I would greatly thank you. I am trying to find the truth, my question is do christans who willfully sin get forgiveness or are they hell bound. Can they repent or does it mean after a christan willfully sins its over and there is no more hope?

Answer
Hi Josh,
Thank you for choosing me to answer your questions.Here is what the New Testament say regarding those who sin willfully.

Heb.10:26-31
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This passage is pretty clear that if a Christian sins willfully (meaning they are well aware what they are doing is sin, but don't have any intention of stopping) they have no hope because they in essence have trampled under foot the Son of God and treated His shed blood as a common thing, insulting the Spirit of grace. The word of God says he who sins willfully is doomed because there no longer remains a sacrifice. It is my belief that the people spoken of in this passage have developed such hard hearts that they will never stop sinning willfully and ask for forgiveness. I say that because it is also very clear that when anyone comes to God and sincerely repents (which is not just asking forgiveness but making a real effort to turn from a specific sin or sinful life to walk as best they can the Christian walk), they are forgiven by God. There are passages which speak of someone being brought back to God by fellow Christians after they had left God and the church.

Gal.6:1,2
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

You might also recall that Jesus said the only sin that is unforgivable is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Matt.12:31,32
31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Speaking against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable because in essence you are teaching people that the Bible is a lie and you are so hard of heart you will not live by God's Word and are making every effort to lead others away from the narrow path which leads to eternal life. But again, if someone helps you see the error of your ways, I believe it is forgivable. But it is most rare that anyone who reaches the point of blaspheming the Holy Spirit will ever be convinced they are in error and will die apart from God.

I do think Christians should be careful not to think they can sin willfully as much as they want and then ask God for forgiveness thinking they will be forgiven. This is what most Catholics believe. They live very sinful lives in general and think all they have to do is go to a priest and confess once in a while, do whatever penance the priest assigns them and they are forgiven. We must be careful not to abuse God's grace. Paul spoke of that in his letter to the church in Rome.

Rom.6:1-4
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

I don't know if my answer has helped you any, but I pray it has been. There is always hope when one repents sincerely but no one should sin that grace may abound or take for granted God's grace. Your questions were very good and not easy to answer but I believe my answer is biblically accurate. I am only human though so continue to study to determine if what I teach is actually correct. If you have follow up questions please let me know. If you ever have new questions I am more than happy to answer those as well.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman